Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3585

After hanging up, Marina suddenly realized something. She had no idea when the shift had occurred, but her former disdain for Carson—the quintessential playboy—had quietly evolved into absolute trust and reliance.

*

Carson had his team track down the IP addresses that first launched the smear campaign. The digital trail led straight to a digital media firm.

Carson's men rounded up the key executives and locked them in a claustrophobic room. It barely took any intimidation before they cracked and handed over Warren's name.

"Warren Griffith?" Carson stared at the name, a terrifyingly cold smirk curling his lips.

One of the executives, who was relatively close to Warren, managed to sneak a phone call from the bathroom. "We're busted. Get the hell out of J City right now!"

Warren was taken aback. "Ashen's people found you?"

The man nodded frantically, despite being on the phone. "They brought a crew of bodyguards into the office. They do not mess around. My tech guys practically wet themselves."

Warren frowned. Just who exactly was this Ashen? She had the resources to hunt down his friend's company and the sheer audacity to send thugs to threaten them.

"Did you sell me out?" Warren demanded, annoyed.

"I didn't have a choice!" the man whined. "You didn't see how vicious these guys were!"

Warren scoffed. "You're pathetic."

"Look, Ashen obviously has major backing. You're going to get me killed. Just lay low for a while!" The man hurriedly hung up.

Warren didn't take the warning seriously. He didn't believe for a second that a comic artist could actually touch him. The Earwood family wasn't some weak, no-name clan in J City that just anyone could step on.

So, he didn't run. Instead, he brazenly stayed at the gallery.

An hour later, his supervisor called him into the main office. When Warren stepped inside, he didn't see the director. Instead, Carson Foster was lounging on the sofa.

Warren flinched violently. "Mr. Foster, I had no idea Ashen was your friend! I was just trying to find a way to get her to attend the exhibition! It's such an incredible opportunity—I swear, I was genuinely looking out for her best interests!"

"Slandering her and inciting a cyber-mob against her. That was your strategy?" Carson's voice was practically dripping with ice. "And you have the nerve to say you were looking out for her?"

Warren lost whatever scraps of bravado he had left. Trembling, he begged, "I made a huge mistake. Please, Mr. Foster, just give me one chance!"

The gallery owner glared at Warren, his voice thick with anger. "You idiot. Even if we couldn't secure Ashen, you do not pull a stunt like this. You're an educated professional. You know the law. Did you seriously not grasp the severity of what you were doing?"

Warren kept his head ducked, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

"Tell me," Carson said, his tone lethal. "How exactly do you propose we resolve this?"

In a blind panic, Warren blurted out, "It was actually Phoebe's idea! Phoebe Evert told me to do it!"

Carson's eyes narrowed into slits. "Who did you just say?"